8:15 PM BUFFALO BILLS (5-4-1) AT HOUSTON TEXANS (3-7)

Buffalo Rallies Way into Playoff Berth Battle. Texans Out of Bullets?

    Sometimes a team has a truly magical campaign like the New Orleans Saints had 4 seasons ago on their way to a Super Bowl Championship. The Buffalo Bills are on one of those types of rolls right now and blazing a trail to a possible playoff berth. They just won their fifth game in a row, 34-30, over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers coming back from a 13 point deficit in the fourth quarter to do so! They have scored 33+ points in all five wins. HB James Cook began to heat up, as the weather got cooler, rushing for 101 yards on just 11 carries in the win. At the same time, QB Josh Allen posted his fourth 100+ QBR game out of his last five outings throwing for 496 yards and a season high 4 touchdowns! Perhaps, more notable, has been the fact Allen has been sacked only two times over his last two games! Houston QB CJ Stroud, however, finished his most recent game completing less than 55% of his throws for a third straight game and RB Joe Mixon could not keep his hot string going ending his day with just 35 yards rushing as the Texans lost, 41-14, to the Tennessee Titans.

   Final Analysis: The play of the two opposing quarterbacks is pretty stark right now. If Stroud can figure things out and if Mixon can have a big day running the ball, Houston could win here. But the play of the Bills has taken a major upturn and Allen is playing excellent ball right now. Buffalo 32-19.

1:00 PM: SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (1-9) AT TENNESSEE TITANS (5-5)

Break Up the 'Hawks (Team Gets First W)! Titans in AFC South Tussel With Jags

    Seattle, finally, won a game and can breath again! The Seahawks upended the Rams, 39-14, using a big 26-point first half to seal the win early. Rookie QB Jalen Milroe displayed some real promise throwing for 298 yards while completing 70% (17/24) of his throws on the day. The Alabama Alum has now completed 72% (31/43) of his passes over his past two games. The Titans remain tied with the Jacksonville Jaguars atop the AFC South after they dismantled the Houston Texans, 41-14, last week. Rookie QB Cam Ward had, arguably, his best game in his young career finishing with a season best 145.6 QBR. He would throw for 419 yards and 4 touchdowns and would be sacked just once! The Miami Hurricane Alum has now had three games this year with 4 TD passes!

   Final Analysis: Two ascending rookie quarterbacks on display here. The Titans, though, are a team on the rise having won three straight coming in. Tennessee 26-22.

  1:00 PM NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (9-2) AT CINCINNATI BENGALS (6-4)

Pats Licking Wounds. Bengals Hunting AFC North Crown

    A big game for both clubs in the AFC. New England is hurting after being completely dominated by the New York Jets, 46-24, last week in their AFC East showdown. The pass protection was ripped to pieces (12 sacks of QB Drake Maye), the defense could not stop the run (Breece Hall  with 26 carries for 159 yards), and the secondary was smoked (QB Justin Fields completed 84.38 % of his pass attempts)! They are a much better team than showed up last week, but the reality is they are much more likely to enter the playoffs as a wild card rather than a divisional champion follwing the defeat. That being the case, it is wholly possible that these Bengals could very well be their first round opponent! Cinci got a solid game out of QB Joe Burrow, but the biggest positive had to be the return of HB Chase Brown into the fold after his lengthy injury. His 19 carries for 51 yards was OK, but it was his pass catching out of the backfield that was the most welcome sight. Brown would haul in 6 balls for 65 yards and vastly improved the offensive efficiency of the Bengals. Cinci has gone 5-1 in games in which Brown has played this season and 1-3 without him! The team was able to beat the Steelers, 32-17, last week in a key divisional matchup as the defense shut down Pittsburgh's running game and amassed 28 first downs to the Steelers' 18 on offense.

   Final Analysis: This is a big game and could be tense. The Pats will be seeking to get back on the winning track, while the Bengals are trying to hold off the Ravens and Steelers in the AFC North

GAME OF THE WEEK

 1:00 PM: NEW YORK GIANTS (5-6) AT DETROIT LIONS (4-5-1)

Huge Game in Motown With Playoff Implications at Stake!

   A big time pressure cooker game is on tap here in Ford Field.  The Giants are coming off a much needed upset win over the Green Bay Packers, 24-21, while the Lions claimed their third victory out of their last four games, 35-31, with a major stunner over the Philadelphia Eagles! The teams are now separated by a half game for the final Wild Card berth in the NFC. New York would use two critical takeaways to get their win over the Packers. FS Jevon Holland would pick off Packer QB Jordan Love in the endzone to stymie one Green Bay threat and then CB Deonte Banks, sitting at his established short 5 yard setting, ranged back enough to pick off Love again, this time at the New York 10, to end a drive that would have given the Packers a late fourth quarter lead! New York now owns an NFC best +13 turnover margin bouyed by 17 team interceptions!

   The Giants have committed the second fewest turnovers in football and are tied with the Cardinals and Sreelers for the fewest interceptions thrown in the league (4)! Their ability to take the ball away, while not giving it away, makes them a very dangerous and difficult unit to beat each week. They have lost the turnover battle in only one game (A 66-48 loss to the Chicago Bears) all season long! One stat that has greatly aided the G-Men is their NFC best run defense (70.82 YPG). The fact teams cannot run on them often forces teams to the air and that, then, leads to interceptions.

   Detroit comes in with the league's 31st worst red zone rating (23%). They have surrendered 30+ points in all five of their losses this season with last week's win marking the first time this year where they gave up 30+ but still won! New York, though, has only posted 30+ points in a game just once this year. Their conservative nature, designed to reduce sack and turnover numbers, combined with a rugged run defense often has them enmeshed in low scoring type affairs that can tilt one way or the other in the final frame of a contest. Lions' QB Jared Goff threw for a season most 393 yards in last week's big upset over Philly and HB Jahmyr Gibbs ripped off 119 yards on only 9 carries! 

   Final Analysis: New York's run defense has been stellar all season long and should contain the explosive Gibbs. That would compel Goff to the air where the New York secondary has done a ton of damage. The G-Mens' style could still leave this one in doubt late and...New York 27-21.

 1:00 PM: NEW YORK JETS (10-0) AT BALTIMORE RAVENS (5-4-1)

No Stopping Mikey-Ball and Jets! Ravens Clinging to AFC North Aspirations

   The New York Jets are the latest team to enjoy the fruits of having Coach Mike Kleinknecht running the show. Coach K employs a totally unique system, that no other coach in the league duplicates, and the method is deadly. Last week, the Jets wiped out the Patriots, 45-24, in a key matchup that was not nearly as close as the score might suggest. New York would roll to a 31-3 bulge after three quarters and, essentially, back off and cruise from there. What was even more impressive about this latest blowout victory was the defense the Jets displayed as well. The D would sack Patriot QB Drake Maye a whopping 14 times, which is incredible when one considers Maye had been sacked 18 times over his prior 7 games combined! HB Breece Hall also had a huge game eclipsing the century mark for the third straight game. He had season highs in rush attempts (26) and yards (159)! Baltimore pushed past the Cleveland Browns, 30-25, as HB Derrick Henry rumbled for 161 yards on a punishing 30 carries.

   Final Analysis: The Jets are near invincible and no team has come close to truly stopping their attack. They have scored 40+ points some seven times already and now the defense is becoming problematic as well. It will take a Herculean effort from a team to beat these guys. New York 40--23

 1:00 PM: PITTSBURGH STEELERS (5-5) AT CHICAGO BEARS (7-3)

Steelers Feeling Heat in Divisional Battle After Big Loss to Cinci. Bears' Defense Coming Under Scrutiny After Upset Loss to Lions 

   Both teams in need of a win as games become more and more impactful now. Pittsburgh could not get their running game going last week and felt the presence of HB Chase Brown in their, 32-17, loss to the Bengals. Chicago's defense was riddled by the Detroit Lions leading to a wild, 54-49, defeat. The Bears have now given up 41,48, and 54 points over their last three games and the inability to get stops is putting a ton of pressure on the offense. The offense, though, has been fantastic and has scored 40+ points in a game some five times this season and piled up an unreal 66 points just two weeks ago versus the New York Giants. The Steelers have been inconsistent, particulary on offense, as the unit does not appear to have found a steady identity yet. QB Aaron Rodgers and HB Jaylen Warren have both had a series of up and down performances this season. 

   Final Analysis: Both teams have shown they can score. Chicago is averaging 36.55 PPG, while Pittsburgh comes in averaging 27.92 PPG. Both teams have been pretty good against the run and not so good versus the pass. Chicago is #1 in the NFC throwing the ball at a 365.4 YPG clip while running for over 100 YPG as well. The Steelers struggle to run the football. Chicago 33-22.

 1:00 PM: MINNESOTA VIKINGS (2-8) AT GREEN BAY PACKERS (8-2)

Vikings Seeking More? Pack Tries to Regroup as NFC North Stretch Looms

    One might think a 1-8 team would simply roll over for a team like the Chicago Bears, but the Minnesota Vikings showed their mettle and showed off their offensive capability as they upset the Bears, 54-49, last week! The game was wild, and at times sloppy, with both teams committing 3 turnovers. However, CB Byron Murphy would intercept Chicago QB Caleb Williams and take it back 91 yards for the score that would, ultimately, prove enough to hold off the hard charging Bears. Murphy would end his excellent performance with 2 picks, 10 tackles, and 2 deflections! Viking QB JJ McCarthy had his best day of the season throwing for 459 yards and 5 touchdowns while finishing with a sparkling 132.8 QBR! The Packers also had turnovers effect their game. Unfortunately, for them, the mistakes went against them and led to a disappointing, 24-21, loss to the New York Giants. The defense continued to play well, but it also extended its lack of takeaway ability. Yet again the D did not have a takeaway and is now one of just three PFL units (Carolina and New Orleans are the other two) without a single fumble recovery all season long! In the Packers' two losses, QB Jordan Love has thrown 3 (Against Arizona) and 2 (Versus the Giants) interceptions, while only tossing 1 pick in the club's 8 wins! HB Josh Jacobs ran the ball just 8 times. Edge rusher Micah Parsons, though, was disruptive again recording 2 more sacks and now has 11 on the season despite, basically, missing three games. This begins a crucial three week span for the Packers where they will play the Vikings, Lions, and the Bears.

  Final Analysis: Interesting matchup here. Minnesota has shown it can score. Green Bay is one of the best defensive clubs in the PFL. However, the lack of takeaways by the Packer defense could play big here as McCarthy has a propensity for the interception (12 on the season). That could help McCarthy have a big day. The Vikings only have 27 sacks and are last in the NFC allowing 1431 yards rushing. Green Bay has not run the ball well much of the season, but this is the time of the year where weather begins to have an impact. Green Bay 29-22.  

   1:00 PM: INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (3-7) AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (6-4)

KC Staying on Heels of Rival Raiders. Indy Hoping to Get Something Positive Going

    The battle for the AFC West is really heating up as the season heads towards the back third of the year. Kansas City is 1/2 game behind the Vegas Raiders and the two clubs could be headed for a classic week 18 showdown in Vegas. The team ended a two game mini-skid with a resounding, 41-18, rout of the Denver Broncos last week that eased some tensions, at least for the moment. QB Patrick Mahomes was, again, solid, but the return of HB Isaiah Pacheco to form had to be a pleasant sighting. Pacheco rushed for 102 yards on 21 carries snapping a seven game drought where he had recorded a high of just 59 yards and totalled 211 yards (30.14 YPG). Indy is coming off their bye week after ending a five game losing streak with a,40-30, win over the Atlanta Falcons. HB Jonathan Taylor rushed for season highs in yards (136) and attempts (29).

   Final Analysis: The Chiefs are in prime position to take the West back this season. They have the Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans, and LA Chargers after this one. Vegas has some winnable games as well, but finish their season against the Eagles, Giants, and Chiefs.  Kansas City 35-17.

4:05 PM: JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (5-5) AT ARIZONA CARDINALS (9-1)

Cards Powering to Top Seed? Jags Scrambing to Win AFC South

   With recent losses by the Philadelphia Eagles, Chicago Bears, and Green Bay Packers, the Arizona Cardinals have a pretty clear path to secure the top seed in the NFC. Although they did lose to the New Orleans Saints in week 1, the Saints have a week 16 clash on tap against the New York Jets that could see the Cards move into the top spot as Arizona will be favored in all of their remaining games. They blasted the San Francisco 49ers last week, 39-11, marking the seventh consecutive game in which they have scored 30+ points. It also was the ninth game in a row where their opponent was held to 21 or fewer points! Jacksonville comes in having won four of their last five and beat the LA Chargers last week, 27-19, behind four interceptions of Charger QB Justin Herbert.

   Final Analysis: The Cards roll into this game leading, or among the league leaders, in a host of categories. Jacksonville is a solid team, but it seems they may get outflanked in too many areas to pull the upset off. Arizona 32-17.

4:05 PM: CLEVELAND BROWNS (3-6-1) AT LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (7-3)

Jeanty and AFC West Leading Raiders Host Browns

   The battle continues to rage in the AFC West between the Raiders and the Kansas City Chiefs. Rookie stud HB Ashton Jeanty helped lead his team to a tough, 24-17, win over the stubborn Dallas Cowboys last week. It was the team's third straight victory and was Jeanty's fourth game in a row rushing for over 100 yards! Cleveland dropped its fourth game in a row despite battling the Baltimore Ravens all afternoon. They would lose, 30-25, but rookie QB Shedeur Sanders bounced back from his disastrous game the week before versus the Jets, and would connect for 368 yards and a season best 3 touchdowns.

   Final Analysis: The Raiders must keep winning if they want to fend off KC. They have a week 18 game slated versus the Chiefs and need to get to that one with the game having meaning. The Browns are continuing to develop Sanders. He has had a typical rookie campaign in terms of ups and downs, but he has also displayed more then enough to convince most he can be the man in Cleveland for years to come. Las Vegas 27-22.

 4:25 PM: PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (8-2) AT DALLAS COWBOYS (2-8)

Floundering Eagles In Control of Division, But Need To Get Flying Again. Pokes in Search of a Future?

    Not very long ago, the Eagles were undefeated and rolling towards another SB appearance. A week 10 loss to the Green Bay Packers ended their winning streak, which was OK, but they followed that defeat up with a, 35-31, stinker against the suddenly improved Detroit Lions last week. At 8-2, they have lost control of their ability to secure the top seed in the NFC and that could make the road back to a third consecutive Super Bowl much more treacherous. The team has had some problems stopping the run much of the season and last week was no exception. Lions' tailback Jahmyr Gibbs would run for 119 yards on just 9 carries continuing the trend. The team's 129.8 YPG allowed versus the run is the fourth worst in the league. Dallas is averaging a league low 263.1 YPG and probably does not have enough firepower to send Philly to a third straight setback. QB Dak Prescott has just 15 TD passes compared to 10 interceptions and his 86.7 QBR is 27th among all quarterback regulars.

   Final Analysis: The Eagles are struggling a bit of late, but they should get back on track against Dallas. They still have a number of tough games on their remaining schedule including a big time clash on tap next week against the Chicago Bears. Philadelphia 31-23.

    4:25 PM: ATLANTA FALCONS (1-9) AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (9-1)

The Opposite Bowl. Teams With Reversed Records Meet in the Big Easy

    As big a mismatch as can be imagined here. The Falcons have been snake bitten almost all season long losing one tight game after another. They saw a 15-3 halftime lead over the Carolina Panthers slowly dissolve last week and, ultimately, lost on a late Ryan Fitzgerald field goal, 21-18.The defense was awesome versus the run holding the Panthers to 1 yard, but the offense could not find a way to push Carolina off the ledge. The loss was the sixth this season in which Atlanta fell by 5 points or less! The Saints are the top seeded team, as of now, in the NFC. They are coming off their bye week after crushing the Panthers, 55-20, the week before their break.

   Final Analysis: Hard to envision an Atlanta stunner. The truth, is, though, the Falcons have played better than their record and likely deserved a better fate. New Orleans 31-16.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (2-8) AT LOS ANGELES RAMS (2-8)

Long Seasons Wind Down for Bucs and Rams

  It has been a long and depressing campaign for these two franchises. Tampa Bay has lost five straight and surrenderd 30+ points in each of its last four games. The Rams have also dropped five in a row and have scored 19 or fewer points in every one of the five defeats.

   Final Analysis: The Bucs cannot seem to stop folks. The Rams cannot seem to score. Tampa Bay 26-20.

8:20 PM: CAROLINA PANTHERS (3-8) AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (7-4)

Niners Hearing Footsteps? Panthers Trying to Gain Respectability

TEAMS ON A BYE